Electorate analysis: Created with the one-vote one-value redistribution at the 2008 election, Ocean Reef covers a strip of outer northern coastal suburbs running through Mullaloo, Ocean Reef, Iluka, Burns Beach and Mindarie from south to north, together with Kinross and northern Currambine inland of Marmion Avenue. This area had previously formed the southern part of Mindarie, which was compensated for its losses by taking on rural outskirts that had previously been accommodated by Wanneroo, together with what had been a coastal section in now landlocked Joondalup around Mullaloo. Although the entire area is naturally marginal territory, there is a slight tendency for the Liberal vote to be stronger in the more established suburbs in the south, which are marked my higher home ownership.

Ocean Reef was won for the Liberals upon its creation by Albert Jacob, a 28-year-old self-employed architect and horticulturalist who had served the local area for three years on Joondalup City Council, and was noted at the time for his youthfully fashionable hairstyle. Jacob prevailed in a seat which had a 1.6% notional Labor margin on the back of a two-party swing of 6.0%. He won promotion to parliamentary secretary in June 2012, in the child protection, community services, seniors and volunteering, women’s interests and youth portfolios. Labor’s candidate is Joondalup councillor Philippa Taylor, who won preselection unopposed.